Reply to Thread

Register Now

In order to be able to post messages on the Hot Rod Forum : Hotrodders Bulletin Board forums, you must first register.
Please enter your desired user name (usually not your first and last name), your email address and other required details in the form below.

User Name:

Password

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Password:

Confirm Password:

Email Address

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Email Address:

Insurance

Please select your insurance company (Optional)

Log-in

User Name

Remember Me?

Password

Human Verification

In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.

Additional Options

Miscellaneous Options

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Automatically retrieve titles from external links

Topic Review (Newest First)

12-30-2011 08:28 PM

1ownerT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groucho

No-name stuff on ebay. It's only $5 with free shipping and I already have 5 full bottles of the instant detailer that's used for lubrication. But, it's no good to me if it'll scratch my car if it's for extreme issues only

I've never used any of the ebay stuff, they may be perfectly fine.
I haven't had any issues with the three I mentioned scratching the paint. Start with a clean surface and as others have said use plenty of lubricant/detailer. The Zaino I have uses a mix of their car wash soap and water, I tried it with the Mothers bar and it destroyed the bar.
There is a night and day difference after using it. It isn't only for extreme cases.

12-29-2011 08:03 PM

cucumber1949

If the clay bar scratches or marrs your paint, you are not using it correctly. A clay bar will not repair scratches or swirl marks, and it shouldn't create any either. The clay bar is merely removing contaminants that sit on paint and don't come off with an otherwise standard car wash effort. The contaminants are sheared off and picked up, and then held in the clay as the bar glides along on the spray detailer/lubricant. This keeps any of the contaminants which are transferred from the surface to the clay from momentarily 'digging' into the paint as they are picked up. The surface of the paint should feel smooth as a flat, clean mirror, and claying a finish should be followed up with whatever wax/protectorant you use as the process tends to remove existing wax, glaze etc.

12-29-2011 07:56 PM

cullencombs

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groucho

Is the yellow different in grade than blue? Which is which? Thanks

Depending on brand my guess would be yellow is a light or mild clay. Every blue color that I have used has been more aggressive.

BTW non believers, I've used clay on super soft black paint and haven't ever saw a scratch caused by claying the paint. The secret is to use tons of lubricant. Also there is no better way to rid the paint of contaminants.

12-29-2011 05:11 PM

bentwings

I haven't used a clay bar on my custom paint streetrod but I don't think it would hurt it at all. 18k miles and I don't have any swirls or polish scratches. I wash the car a couple times a week and after any long cruise plus it waxed about every 2 weeks.

Now my dualliy is another story. It gets filthy dirty on the highway and after washing I use the claybar about twice a year. The clay bar does wonders for it. the truck is black and 11 yr old and it looks new after the clay bar rub.

12-29-2011 04:42 PM

Groucho

Quote:

Originally Posted by Centerline

I've always been somewhat suspicious of clay bars. There's something about them that just doesn't pass my logic test. They say they pick up impurities from the paint surface but these "impurities" then somehow magically disappear and don't harm the paint as they are rubbed across the surface as you continue on with the clay bar process. Am I missing something with this?

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

Hey, I'm with you in theory. But, they do work VERY well. I was of the same belief with those California Car Dusters that EVERYONE seems to use at shows. But, let's try to keep this thread on track so I can make a decision. Thank you

12-29-2011 04:34 PM

Centerline

I've always been somewhat suspicious of clay bars. There's something about them that just doesn't pass my logic test. They say they pick up impurities from the paint surface but these "impurities" then somehow magically disappear and don't harm the paint as they are rubbed across the surface as you continue on with the clay bar process. Am I missing something with this?

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

12-29-2011 04:28 PM

Groucho

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ownerT

What Brand?

I have used Mothers (yellow), Zaino (light red/pinkish), and Maguires (pale yellow/cream) and prefer them in the order I listed.

No-name stuff on ebay. It's only $5 with free shipping and I already have 5 full bottles of the instant detailer that's used for lubrication. But, it's no good to me if it'll scratch my car if it's for extreme issues only

12-29-2011 03:18 PM

1ownerT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groucho

Is the yellow different in grade than blue? Which is which? Thanks

What Brand?

I have used Mothers (yellow), Zaino (light red/pinkish), and Maguires (pale yellow/cream) and prefer them in the order I listed.